Predictors of language and auditory skills in Egyptian children with a cochlear implant

Abstract Aim: The aim of this study was to investigate the prognostic factors contributing toward the comprehension and production of Arabic language as well as auditory abilities after cochlear implantation of Egyptian children. Participants and methods: A total of 150 children with severe to profound sensory neural congenital hearing loss were implanted with multichannel cochlear implants. Children had received their implants 3 months to 2 years before the onset of the study. They had received their implants between the age range of 3 and 6 years. Tests of receptive, expressive language, and sets of auditory abilities were administered. Characteristics of the child and the family (age before implant and duration of implant use, preimplant use of hearing aids and language therapy, parents’ involvement in therapy, mode of communication at home, type of the implant, and geographic distribution) were considered the predictors. Predictors of total language and auditory abilities were determined using statistical analysis by univariate and multivariate analyses. Results: Some significant predictors of language and auditory skills in this study included duration of implant use, use of auditory mode of communication and parent interaction. There is a positive correlation between language age and both individual and total auditory abilities scores. Conclusion: Prognostic factors for language and auditory abilities are useful in a rehabilitation program after cochlear implantation. © 2015, The Author(s).